Ah, the exhilarating journey of planning your very first trip! It’s like preparing for a treasure hunt where the real loot is the memories you’ll make and the stories you’ll gather along the way. But let’s face it, navigating through the labyrinth of flights, accommodations, and all the quirky intricacies of travel can sometimes feel like deciphering hieroglyphs after a night of questionable decision-making thinking about: « How to plan my first trip? ». Fear not, fellow wanderers, for I am here to guide you through this whimsical maze with all the finesse of a GPS system and the humor of a stand-up comedian stuck in an airport security line.
So, grab your travel pillow, strap in, and prepare for an adventure that will leave you both enlightened and slightly bewildered. Welcome to the crash course on planning your very first trip where we’ll explore the art of jet-setting with the grace of a seasoned traveler and the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store. Buckle up, folks, we’re about to take off into the wild blue yonder of travel planning, where the only turbulence you’ll encounter is the occasional hiccup in your carefully crafted itinerary. Let the journey begin!
Plan your First Trip: The Flight
Flights can be expensive and complicated to book and/or understand if you’ve never had to travel by plane. Let me guide you through this. First of all, you need to know the dates of your trip (after knowing where you want to go, of course.) My favourite tool to chose a flight is called Skyscanner, which is a website that will look up all the companies that sell flights, to help you make the best and cheapest decision, if the budget is an issue for you. The good thing about this website is that you can also search for the cheapest destinations if you dont know where you want to travel. You can also chose the option to not pick any specific dates, so that’ll also help you to find a flight at a lower price.
Another tool that I like to use, if you’re open to any destination, is something called Les Vols d’Alexi. The only issue with this one is that you have to subscibe for 5$ CAD a month, but you’ll get the most exclusive and cheapest deals to travel around the world. Alexi sends an email almost every single day about a new deal he just found. In my opinion, for 5$, you’ll be saving a lot of money in the long-term and it’s totally worth the price – Girl’s math.
Also, don’t forget to keep a copy of your flight informations and tickets to make sure there is nothing unexpected happening once you’re already at the airport. What I like to do is put my ticket with my passport if I’m traveling internationally, because I know I’ll need it at some point.
Last but not least, make sure to get to the airport AT LEAST 2 hours before your flight. There is often a significant amout of wait time, so let me tell you, you don’t want to miss your flight because you got there late.
The Accomodations
Anywhere in the world, there are many types of accomodations. You just need to do your reaserch and find the one type that suits you best.
TIP : Don’t forget to match the dates with your itinerary, you don’t want to find yourself sleeping in the streets! (yes, I’m unfortunately saying this from experience… I’m gonna tell you this story later in an other article.)
Hotels
They are the most common type of accomodations. You can find anything you’d like, on a variety of websites. My favourite is Trivago, because just like Skyscanner, it looks up all the companies that offer hotels. So, you can easily find a good deal with this one.
The one good thing about hotels is that you are typically offered amenities and breakfast, depending on the room you chose. There are twin-sized bed, queen-size bed, king-sized bed room, suites… pretty much anything that you could imagine. Once again, it all depends on what kind of hotel, room and service you’d like best.
Hostels
This one is for the people who don’t mind about their intimacy and enjoy meeting people from all around the world.
An hostel is usually very public. What I mean by that is that the rooms are furnished with single beds, which makes it most likely that you’ll have to sleep next to strangers. That’s why they are way cheaper than a regular hotel.
If you’re a teenager/young adult, I highly recommend it because you’ll get to meet a lot of people that are in their 20’s, and like I just said, you get to meet plenty of people from all around the world.
Airbnb / Vrbo
The Airbnb might be a favourite of mine. Not only is it sometimes cheaper than a hotel, but you get to have your own private house for the duration of your stay. It is very popular with friend groups.
Once again, you’ll have plenty of options depending on where you decided to go. There are private rooms, whole houses, shacks, apartments and so on… The only negative point, compared to the hotel, is that you’ll have to buy your own food if you want to cook breakfast, because if there are Airbnb’s or Vrbo’s that offer breakfast, I’ve never seen one.
Campings / State parks
That is more relevant if you’re traveling with a tent or an RV. Indeed, campings, as you may know, are outdoor spaces. So, if you don’t have any of those, it might not be the best options for you. But, once again, it’s a great way to meet new people. There are also very cheap options, as some others are more expensive. You’ll have to do your research, because there are so many of them, everywhere.
State parks are also a thing. The difference is that you get to sleep in the nature, with no one around you. It is a good option if you’re not scared about sleeping outdoors in the middle of nowhere. But, beware of the fact that you might not be allowed to spend the night in some specific spots, or you might need to buy a permit to do so. Again, it all depends on the state park and where you decide to travel to. I’ll never say it enough : do your research.
The Food
All countries have their own culture and foods. There are also many types of restaurants and some are cheaper than others. It all depends on what you like. I got to admit, it may be the most boring suggestion you’ve ever heard, but I quite enjoy using Google Maps to find a good restaurant when I travel. It really shows you all the options you have, with the price range, the menu, the location… I don’t have much more to say about this. Go with what you like to eat and visit restaurants that are in your budget!
The Budget
Currencies
First thing you need to know is that every single country has its own currency. The most common is without a doubt the US dollar, which can be used practically worldwide. But, it is way less complicated to exchange some money from the right currency before the trip. It’ll be part of your homework before you leave to figure out which one it is.
Here’s a little tip : ask your bank for the exchange in advance, as some currencies can take some time to obtain. We’re talking about a few weeks if it’s a place like Asia, South America and some other exotic places.
You can also bring and use your credit card even though I do not recommend using it to often while traveling, because exchange rates will be charged. That is up to you.
How to plan a budget
The good thing about having the flights and accomodations already booked is that you won’t have to include those in your budget for the trip.
What you will have to think about is mainly the food, activities and transportation.
Once you thought about your itinerary, you can figure out what or where you want to eat and approximately how much it will cost you. My best advice is that you estimate on the rise to make sure you won’t have any money problem. That will also help you deal with unexpected expenses.
The next step is figuring out what you want to do once you get there. I will get to this in details in a few chapters, but what you really need to know is what you want to do and how much it will cost. TripAdvisor will be your best friend for this one. It offers many activities in every single city worldwide. You’ll find what you’re looking for on there, believe me.
Last but not least, if you’re planning on not staying in the same spot, think about what kind of transportation you want to use. There are buses, planes, taxis, public transports, etc. It all depends on the distance you want to travel, another homework for you.
Also, plan those before you leave while considering your itinerary.
Medication and Vaccines
There are some countries where diseases are more widespread. To deal with that, make sure to go see a pharmacist. They usually have the right to prescribe medications to prevent you from catching any disease while you’re traveling. They will also give you advice on what other medication you might need to bring.
Culture and Research
All countries are different : laws are different, culture is different, you might need to dress in a specific way, etc. That’s another part of your homework. Believe me, you don’t want to get arrested for something you didn’t know but is specific to the country.
As an example, let me know if you want me to tell the story, but I once got arrested and went to the police station because I didn’t know I needed an international driving license to drive a scooter. That’s also one thing you need to look up if you’re planning on driving.
Travel Documents and Insurance
The basic document you’ll need if you’re traveling abroad is a passport, obviously. If you don’t already have one, make sure to request it AT LEAST 2 months in advance. The process takes a lot of time (well, at least here in Canada). This document is necessary for any trip, no matter how long you’re planning on staying.
If you want to stay a little bit longer, you might need a visa. There are different kind, such as work visas, if you’re planning to work. Submit your request a few weeks in advance to make sure it’s valid. Once again, every country is different : do your research!
What to bring
Depending on where you’re going, you may need to bring a few different things.
For example, if you’re going to an southern country, you might need to bring a few swimsuits. If you’re planning on going on hikes, bring sports clothes.
Also, don’t forget everything you need to shower, prepare, your phone charger and any other accessories you might need, depending on your destination and activities.
TIP : Don’t forget your shoes, socks and underwear. I forget those too often because people tend to neglect them when packing.
TIP : Don’t forget to look up what you can and cannot bring with you in the airplane. Some items are completely forbidden, and some others are restricted. Check the airport’s website, you’ll find all the infos you need. There’s also a weight limit for your luggage(s).
Conclusion
I know, there is a lot to plan. But don’t worry, it’s way easier than it seems. You’ll just have to take your time and do your research about your destination, like I said.
I wish you a very nice trip!
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